The lost Marathas of third battle of Panipat

The pictures of Chhatrapati Shivaji and his mother Jijamata now dominate the Rod homes today as they talk about the episodes from Shivaji's life as if they have been living in Maharashtra for ages.

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UDAY MAHURKAR

January 12, 2012

UPDATED: January 13, 2012 19:15 IST

India Today Senior Editor Uday Mahurkar

As one whose ancestor Bhikhajirao Mahurkar-Salunke had fought in the historic Third Battle of Panipat as a military commander of the Maratha army and was one of the lucky ones to return alive, though seriously injured, it was indeed an experience visiting the Veer Bhoomi of the Marathas' ancestors last week to find out whether the lost Maratha soldiers of that battle are indeed the forefathers of the Rod community located in the Panipat region.

I found the evidence deduced by Kolhapur historian Vasantrao More was indeed sufficient to prove that the six lakh members of the Rod community are the descendants of the lost soldiers of the Maratha army which, despite its unmatched bravery, lost that battle to Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali's superior military tactics on January 14, 1761. A monument built in 1992 at the spot of the actual battle called Kala Amb at the behest of Kolhapur-based Maratha leader Udaysinhrao Gaekwad, is indeed a tribute to more than 50,000 Maratha soldiers who lost their lives on that fateful day along with their artillery commander, Ibrahim Khan Gardi. The Muslim general was caught alive and mercilessly killed by the Afghan invader for fighting for the Hindus despite being a Muslim.

My interaction with the Rod clans, which have typical Maratha surnames and follow many Maharashtrian customs, in the villages gave me an insight as to how even in this age of glamour and drama something to do with chivalry can transform an entire community. More began his research on the subject in 2003 on the suggestion of Virendra Singh Varma alias Jhankhle, president of the Maratha Jagruti Manch and a prominent Rod leader. Eight years later, the revelation that the Rods are descendants of the brave Marathas has given a new identity to them and has filled the community with unmatched pride.

The pictures of Chhatrapati Shivaji and his mother Jijamata now dominate the Rod homes today as they talk about the episodes from Shivaji's life as if they have been living in Maharashtra for ages. This has come to them after their visits to Maharashtra in the past few years to connect with their heritage and Maratha brethren. Inderraj Dudhane, 81, of village Dadupur Kala is upfront when he says: "The revelation that we are a community connected to Shivaji and that we had done great deeds for the nation is simply indescribable. The entire community is in a stage of transformation, particularly the youth, who have found a new meaning to their lives."

The description of the Panipat battle itself can move any Indian. Ahmad Shah Abdali himself paid a flowing tribute to his rivals when in a letter to then Jaipur ruler, Madhav Singh, he wrote : "The Marathas fought with the greatest valour which was beyond the capacity of other races. These dauntless blood-shedders didn't fall short in fighting and doing glorious deeds. But ultimately we won with our superior tactics and with the grace of the Divine Lord." At least 27 Maratha commanders including the scions of Gwalior, Dhar and Dewas Maratha royal families fell in the battle along with the commander in chief Sadashivrao Bhau and Vishwasrao, Peshwa Balaji Bajirao's son .

For national integration too, the battle of Panipat is a great example. Ibrahim Khan Gardi and his Muslim troops sacrificed their lives fighting for the Maratha flag against a Muslim. Then Rana Khan, a Muslim, saved the life of the great Maratha commander Mahadji Shinde, who later re-established the lost Maratha glory in north and became the protector of Mughal emperor Shah Alam. Rana Khan came to be addressed as "Bhai" by Scindia everafter. The result of these instances of inter-religious harmony was evident in the princely state founded by Scindia, Gwalior, where till independence Hindu children used to wear green clothes on Muslim festivals and vice-versa. As a child, my father used to follow this tradition in Gwalior.